Anti-War Actions

On March 26th, my friend Sam Grafton, 22, from Leamington Spa and I, were arrested by armed members of the Ghurkhas regiment near to the runway near gate 15 at USAF Fairford. This is the base from which American Weapons of Mass Destruction in the form of B52 aircraft, leave to attack Iraqi people.

We were carrying hammers and we cut into the base using bolt croppers. We were charged after being held at Stroud Police station for two and half days, with 1) Criminal Damage, 2) Aggravated Trespass and 3) Going equipped to commit further criminal damage. We were taken to Cheltenham Magistrates Court where we were released on bail with conditions, “Not to go within 500m of any military establishment in the UK.”

We took this action to uphold international law, which said that the genocide being committed in Iraq by US/UK forces was illegal, a crime against humanity and peace. The following morning, a market was bombed killing numerous innocent people, a reminder of why we took the action.

We were using non-violent direct action to confront a militarist violent system in which violence is met with further violence, in which political ‘leaders’ try to justify acts of aggression which are plainly about securing resources, notably in this case because Iraq has the second largest oil reserves of any country in the world.

Our bail conditions have recently been relaxed slightly, with conditions that we must not go within 500m of USAF Fairford only. A date for our trial has not yet been set; however, it is expected to last three days with the prosecution calling twelve witnesses, and both our solicitors from Bindman and Partners, and the prosecution calling experts as to the legality of the war.

http://www.fairfordpeacewatch.com

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